Current collaboration technology is taking a huge step in increasing group work in companies. My favorite collaboration tool is Google Docs. Google Docs is a cloud based (or strictly internet) word processor provided to all Google users. These documents created can be viewed privately, shared among select others or posted on the web. I recently had the opportunity to learn the true collaboration power of Google Docs and the uses in business while working on a group project. That was when I discovered the capacity that Google Docs has for group work through collaboration, however ever Google has little protection against moles.
The tool most useful for group on Google Docs is the sharing tool. This allows you to select individuals to share the document with, then the people you sent them to can also share with others. From sharing you can email a copy in the form of an attachment or post it on the internet as a PDF file. The collaboration power of Google Docs is also a great tool. When multiple people are viewing the same document they can edit and chat in real time providing instant feedback and the ability to work where ever there is an internet connection.
But Google Docs has one minor downside, if someone is smart enough then they can undermine the whole group work process. This is extremely prevalent in the competitive group work process in business. Using the ability to send a copy of the document in an email leaves no visible trace of the document being shared on Google Docs, thus if there is a mole they can just send it over to their friends in another group and the competition is lost by all parties.
I believe the use of Google Docs in group work has many more benefits than downfalls. So would I recommend using it in the future? Yes. Why? Because it provides all of the tools needed to produce quality work and get a group together even when they’re across the world.
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